Chute, hopper door or the like and controls therefor



Jan 26, 1960 A. MARTON 2,922,203

CHUTE; HOPPER DOOR OR THE LIKE AND CONTROLS THEREFOR Filed Oct. 17, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 4 b \X INVEN TOR.

Jan. 26, 1960 A. MARTON CHUTE, HOPPER DOOR OR THE LIKE AND CONTROLS THEREFOR Filed Oct. 17, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I I l l 1 I I A? I I F/Z7-4 I (D /e w INVENTOR 7 fi/ZZPEZJ IVE F70]? 6 mma J v Un d see Paw CHUTE, HOPPER DOOR OR THE LIKE AND CONTROLS THEREFOR Andrew Marton, Akron, Ohio, assignor to Wilkinson Chutes, Inc., Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 17, 1957, Serial No..690,679

7 Claims. (CI. -16) This invention relates to chute or hopper doors, or the like, especially to a compact return or control mechanism for use with doors of the type indicated.

The present invention relates to the type of a laundry or rubbish chute, or receiving doors for chutes or hoppers, as generally are shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,587,021.

In making doors for chutes of this type, it is very desirable to provide an attractive finish for the doors inasmuch as the doors are used in hospitals, apartments, office buildings, and many other commercial structures. In the type of constructions previously used, it has been 7 2,922,203 Patented Jan. 26, 1969 Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Big.

1 with the cover strips thereon removed.

When referring to corresponding parts shown in the drawings and referred to in the specification, corresponding numerals are used to facilitate comparison therebetween.

The present invention, generally speaking, relates to a compact control for a chute door or the like to control the opening and the. return or closing action thereof and including frame means having a side section such as a metal angle, a return cylinder secured to the side section in alignment therewith and carried on an inner surface thereof, the return cylinder having a piston rod extending therefrom in alignment with the side section, a slide member secured to the piston rod and slidably engaging the inner surface. of the side frame section, .a

necessary to provide a laundry or rubbish receiving opening in a wall of a building with some type of a closure or receiving door being provided to close this opening in the Wall. In addition, it has been necessary to provide a laterally offset section or box in the building wall immediately adjacent the door where the control mechanism for the door is received. This adds to the area or volume required by the chute and its associated means and, even though of an attractive appearance, it isgenerally undesirable. 1 V,

It thus is the general object of the present invention to provide an improved style of a chute or hopper door and associated control mechanism therefor characterized by the compactness thereof and by the overall finished neat appearance and small size of thedoor and associated means. i

Another object of the invention is to provide control or return movement mechanism in a door of the class indicated and where such control mechanism is all positioned on one member of a frame means which outlines the chute opening in which the chute door or' the like is to be positioned.

A further object of the invention is to provide a chute door control mechanism made from a small number of parts and wherein relatively uncomplicated return mechanism is provided so that a minimum of maintenance is required thereon. I A further'object of the invention is to provide a return mechanism for a chute door or the like wherein return mechanism can be mounted within frame means provided with no apparent overall extension in area of the chute door mechanism being required for positioning of the return or control of movement mechanism therefor. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be made more apparent as the specification proceeds.

Reference now is directed to the accompanying drawings wherein one currently preferred embodiment of the priiibiples of the invention is disclosed, and wherein: Fig. l is an elevation of an operatively positioned door and control assembly of the invention;

Fig. 2. is a horizontal section. partially shown in plan, of the door and associated frame means of Fig. 1, with the cover strips thereon removed;

' Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the door and asopen position by dotted lines; and

control arm attached to a chute door positioning shaft, and a link pivotally secured to and extending between the control arm andslide member for controlling the door position and transmitting closing action thereto from the piston rod and the return cylinder.

With reference to the details of the construction shown in the drawings, the chute or hopper door is indicated as a whole by the numeral 1. Such door is permanently secured in and fills an opening provided in a wall 2 of a building and any suitable type of a sleeve unit 3 is positioned in the opening in the wall 2 to connect to as sociated chute or other hopper or receiving means for laundry, rubbish or the like introduced into such chute through the sleeve unit 3. An open centered frame 4 is provided welded, for example, to the sleeve unit 3 which is securedto the wall 2 by conventional means for'positioning the sleeve unit and chute door 'in place. Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawingsbest show that the chute door 1 is positioned on a suitable support shaft 5 journalled in bearingso secured tola portion of the frame means 4 by straps 7,, as disclosed in detail in C. M. Wilkinsons pendin'g patent application, Serial No. 413,- 604, now Patent No. 2,808,625; issued October 8, 1957. v The straps or brackets 7 and bearings 6are positioned in laterally extending channels 8 adjacent the margins'of the frame 4 provided for the door 1. Such frame 4 includes side angles 4a and 4b' extending vertically of the opening in the wall 2 and top and bottom angles 4c and 4d, respectively, which together with the channels 8 and associated means cooperate to form the frame that is indicated as a whole by the numeral 4. Such frame means, it will'be seen, thus has an open center portion in which the door 1 is received. The frame 4 can be anchored in place in any desired manner.

A feature of the present invention is the fact that the side angle or frame member 412 is removably secured to the associated portions of the frame as by use of cap screws 9 and 10, or the equivalent. Thus, when desired, the frame section 4b can be removed from the remainder of the assembly readily. This frame section 412 usually is in the shape of a conventional metal angle that has a front leg Xand a rearwardlyextending leg Y, as indicated in Fig. 2. Acompressed air type of a return cylinder 11 is secured, as by means of clamps 12 to an inner portion The return cylinder is usually vertically adjustably and removably secured to the frame section by the clamps to aid in con- 7 trolling the desired opening and automatic closing movement of the door 1, as hereinafter described. A piston rod 13 extends from the return cylinder 11 and such piston rod 13 and return cylinder 11 are aligned with and parallel to the frame section 4b and donot protrude laterally therefrom to' aid in providing a compact overall assembly for these return movement control means.

The piston rod 13 is moved by a piston (not shown) within the return. cylinden. A slide bar, or member 14 sliding engagement with the inner surface of the frame section, or angle 4b and usually the slide bar 14 contacts the. rearwardly extending leg Y of such frame section so that the slide bar is fixedly positioned against lateral movement, but. yet has sliding contact with this frame section. Any suitable lubricant may be associated with the inner surface of: the frame section to aid in obtaining easy sliding movement of the slide bar 14 upon opening and closing action of the door 1. The slide bar 14 is connected to the door 1 by a control arm 15 fixedly secured to the shaft and protruding rearwardly therefrom. The control arm and slide bar 14 are connected by a link 16 pivotally secured to and extending between these members, as indicated best in Fig. 4.

The apparatus is so constructed that when the frame section 4b is removed from the remainder of the assembly, after the trim means has been removed, then the entire door closing mechanism can be pulled out of its position within the wall. for inspection or repair, as desired, inasmuch as the link 16 will provide this forward movement of the return mechanism. A suitable enclosure 17 is provided and is seated in the wall 2 adjacent the door for receiving the return cylinder 11, slide bar 14 and associated means therein.

Fig. 1 of the drawings indicates that a hole 18 is provided in the frame section 4b adjacent the lower end thereof and with such hole being immediately adjacent a control nut 19 on the lower end of the return cylinder 11 for the air valve for such device. Thus, a screwdriver or equivalent member can be inserted through the hole 18 and adjust the nut 19 by slight rotation thereof to control the action of the return cylinder 11.

Fig. 2 shows that the return mechanism assembly is of less lateral width than said frame section 412.

The door 1 is made from any desired material and preferably has a block, or slab 200i insulation and sound deadening material secured thereto and carried thereby. Such. insulation aids in preventing undesirable noise or rattling of the door when being moved or closed, and it also serves asv a heat insulation barrier should. the occur in the associated chute. An attractive handle 21 is secured to the front of the door 1 to facilitate opening the door for automatic closure action by the return cylinder 11.

The chute door 1, usually has side plates or wings 22 secured thereto and forming a unit therewith. Flanges 23 extend from lower portions of such side plates 22 to engage edge flanges 24 secured to front portions of the sleeve unit 3 to limitopening movement of the chute door. The chute door 1 seats on such edge flanges 24 when, closed.

In some instances where a large, or heavy door is involved, it may be necessary to provide a pair of the return cylinders 11 positioned immediately adjacent each other so that this pair of cylinders would each be secured to the rear surface of the frame section and have the piston rods thereon engage with the slide bar 14. Thus a deeper movement control unit would be provided, but it would still be of the same narrow width.

This return movement assembly of the invention is adapted for use with any type of a hopper, laundry or receiving door, or the like and will provide effective closing action therefor. Furthermore, the control mechanism is quite available for inspection or repair and combines to provide an attractive overall finished unit. Thus the objects of the invention are believed to be achieved.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modification of this particular embodiment of the invention may be resorted to. without departing from the scope .of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a chute or hopper door or the like, open centered frame means attached to a structure to. outline an. opening therein, a chute door received in the open center of said frame means, means journalling said chute door on saidframe means, said frame means including an elongate side member removably secured to other portions of said frame means, an air type return cylinder secured to said side member on the inner surface thereof, said return cylinder having a piston rod extending therefrom along and adjacent said side member for movement parallel thereto, a slide bar secured to said piston rod and slidably engaging said side member to maintain said piston rod on the axis of said return cylinder, a'control arm operatively secured to a positioning shaft on said chute door for arcuate movement therewith, and a link pivotally secured to and extending between said slide bar and said control arm for moving said piston rod to provide return movement of said chute door when opened by said return cylinder;

2. In a chute or hopper door or the like, open centered frame means attached to a structure to outline an opening therein, a chute door received in the open center of said frame means, means journalling said chute door on said frame means, said frame means including an elongate side member removably secured to other portions of said frame means, a return cylinder secured to said side member on the inner surface thereof, said return cylinder having a piston rod extending therefrom along and adjacent said side member, a slide bar secured to the end of said piston rod and slidably engaging said side member to prevent movement of said piston rod towards said side member, a control arm operatively secured to said chute door and movable therewith, and a link pivotally secured to and extending between said slide bar and said control arm for return movement of said chute door when opened.

. 3. In a chute or hopper door or the like, open centered frame means attached to a structure to outline an opening therein, a chute door having a positioning shaft and being received in the open center of said frame means, means journalling said chute door shaft in said frame means, said frame means including an elongate side member removably secured to other portions of said frame means, a return cylinder secured parallel to said side member on the inner surface thereof, said return cylinder having a control piston therein and a piston rod extending therefrom parallel to and adjacent said side member, a slide member secured to said piston rod and slidably bearing on said side member, a control arm operatively secured to said chute door shaft, and link means pivotally secured to and extending between said slide member and said control arm for return movement of said chute door when opened.

4. In a compact control for a chute door or the like, frame means including a side section of metal angle having'a front leg and a rearwardly extending leg, a return cylinder secured to said side section in alignment therewith and carried on an inner surface thereof, a piston rod extending axially from said return cylinder, a slide member secured to said piston rod and slidably engaging the inner surface of said front leg and being limited in lateral movement by said rearwardly extending leg, a control arm attachable to a chute door shaft to control the position thereof, and a link pivotally connecting said control arm to said slide member.

5. In a compact control for a chute door or the like, frame means including a side section of angle shape in section and having a front leg and a rearwardly extending leg, an air operated return cylinder secured to said side section in alignment therewith and carried on an inner surface thereof, a piston rod extending from said return cylinder for movement along said side section, a slide member secured to said piston rod and slidably engaging the inner surface of said front leg and being limited in lateral movement by said rearwardly extending leg, a control arm attachable to a chute door shaft to control the position thereof, and a link pivotally connect- 5 ing said control arm to said slide member, said slide member, piston rod, control arm and link forming a unit of smaller width than said side section.

6. In a compact control for a chute door or the like, frame means for engaging a wall at an opening therein and including a side section spacedfrom the Wall in which the frame means is positioned, a return cylinder secured to said side section in alignment therewith and carried on an inner surface thereof, a piston rod extending from said return cylinder parallel to said side section, a control arm attached to a chute door shaft to control the position thereof, a chute door positioned in the open center of said frame means, a chute door shaft carrying said door and journalled on said frame means, and means pivotally connecting said control arm to said piston rod so that opening said chute door moves said piston rod and said return cylinder will eflect automatic closing of said chute door, said return cylinder, piston rod, control arm, and pivotal connecting means forming a door operative unit of less overall width than said section.

7. In a chute or hopper door or the like, open centered frame means attached to a structure to outline an opening therein, a chute door received in the open center of said frame means, means journalling said chute door on said frame means, said frame means including an elongate side member, a return cylinder stationarily positioned adjacent the inner surface of said side member, said return cylinder having a piston rod extending axially therefrom along and adjacent said side member, a slide bar secured to the end of said piston rod and slidably engaging said side member to aid in positioning said piston rod, 2. control arm operatively secured to said chute door and movable therewith, and a link pivotally secured to and extending between said slide bar and said control arm to move said piston rod out of said return cylinder as said chute door is opened, said return cylinder pulling said piston rod thereinto to close said chute door through action of said link.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

